Forget all that doomsday Y2K hype from last year.

The apocalypse is upon us now. Just look at the Big Ten football standings.

Northwestern, yes, Northwestern is in first place with a 3-0 record. Not surprisingly, Ohio State is 2-0 behind the Wildcats.

Then there is Wisconsin, which won the Big Ten title in 1998 and 1999. The Badgers are 0-3 in the conference and 3-3 overall. Michigan State was also a team expected to contend for the Big Ten championship, but has a dismal 0-2 conference mark.

Ohio State coach John Cooper isn't shocked by the sudden decline in overall power. Teams outside the conference, such as Alabama, Tennessee and Texas, have sub-par records as well. The Crimson Tide and the Volunteers have been voted off the top 25 island while the Longhorns are on the brink, standing at No. 25.

"That is college football," Cooper said. "It's happening all over the country. We don't have a monopoly in the Big Ten."

But the Big Ten was predicted to be a dominant powerhouse. At the conference's kickoff luncheon in July, coach after coach stood and spoke about the Big Ten being the best organization in the country.

ESPN commentator and master of ceremonies Lee Corso practically deified each coach before they took the podium. He said there is no better conference in the country, and it will always be.Looks like Corso donned the wrong hat, as he rarely does Saturdays on College Gameday.

Fans and players might be surprised, but Michigan coach Lloyd Carr was unfazed.

"It just tells you that you have to play the games one at a time," Carr said, "and anybody can beat anybody else,"he added.

Carr and his Wolverines know about "anybody" all too well. Purdue surprised them last Saturday in a heart-pounding, down-to-the-wire 32-31 loss.

And like several of its conference mates, Michigan was beaten by a non-conference opponent as well.

In early September, UCLA beat the Wolverines 23-20. At the same time, Ohio University was stunning Minnesota, 23-17. And on Sept. 16, independent Notre Dame beat Purdue 23-21.

"It's kind of upsetting because you want the Big Ten to do well -- especially against non-conference teams," Purdue quarterback Drew Brees said. "It brings more prestige to the Big Ten."

Penn State defensive end Michael Haynes said he's not surprised at the conference's decline. Unlike the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big XII, the winner of a Big Ten matchup is not a foregone conclusion.

"This conference is tough," Haynes said. "When I see Wisconsin lose, it's just another week in the Big Ten. In the Big Ten, it's just another year. When Florida State loses, it's a big upset."

In past years, a Penn State loss was a big upset. This year, it's no secret that the Nittany Lions are having a disappointing season.

But this year, Penn State has prestigious company at the bottom of the conference.

"At the beginning of every year, it's like, 'Who's going to survive the Big Ten?' " Haynes said. "You don't win it, you survive it."